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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






2. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






3. A short light musical drama.






4. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






5. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






6. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






7. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






8. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






9. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






10. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






11. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






12. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






13. A loose collection of instrumental compositions.






14. Lowest female singing voice.






15. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






16. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






17. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






18. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






19. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






20. A symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished.






21. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






22. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






23. A song or hymn celebrating Christmas.






24. The distance in pitch between two notes.






25. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






26. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






27. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






28. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






29. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






30. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






31. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






32. The highest female voice.






33. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






34. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






35. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






36. The movement of chords in succession.






37. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






38. Written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part. Each part bears the same importance.






39. Pertains to tone or tones.






40. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






41. Music of a particular form consisting of four movements. Each of the movements differ in tempo - rhythm - and melody; but are held together by subject and style.






42. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






43. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






44. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






45. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






46. A short piece originally preceded by a more substantial work - also an orchestral introduction to opera - however not lengthy enough to be considered an overture.






47. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






48. The first violin in an orchestra.






49. A piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance - shown by continuous applause.






50. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.